Important Dates - Scholarship Deadlines May 1, 2005 - Academic Paper Awards competition - submit up to 3 papers you have written for a class as a junior or senior: Application August 1, 2005 - NSHSS/Presidential Classroom Public Service Scholarship NSHSS members who have attended a Presidential Classroom Program are eligible to apply for an academic scholarship of $750.00 funded by our educational partner Presidential Classroom. Download the application here: Application Scholarship Announcements We are pleased to announce the recipient of the 2005 Claes Nobel-People to People Student Ambassadors Program Award to John Vu, of Rancho Alamitos High School in Garden Grove, California. The award covers the program tuition of a Future Leaders Summit Conference. John will attend the Summit in medicine in July. The Robert Sheppard Leadership Award recipient will be announced in the next few weeks. Claes Nobel Academic Scholarships and National Scholar Awards will also be announced by the end of March. Please visit FastWeb to search for more scholarships. The members-only site of the NSHSS also has other scholarship resources. Who, What, When, Where: How to Find Anything By Jean Danielson Director, Educational Research, Fastweb Students spend a lot of time researching all kinds of subjects, and here are a few specialized sites for digging up that information you need. Palau. Where is it? What is it? A sauce that came with dinner last night? No. But I can tell you where to find out. The CIA World Factbook, http://www.cia.gov/, details our world's countries in various snapshots: geography, people, government, economy, military, and communications. You'll find a wealth of resources about our world. More... NSHSS has formed a partnership with the publisher of My College Guide, a publication geared toward high-ability, college-bound high school students who have just begun their college search. The publishers will provide members of NSHSS with a free copy, either in a print or electronic format, of its next edition upon request. Members can begin their college search now by exploring the My College Guide web site and by requesting FREE college information online. There is plenty of useful advice including senior pitfalls, college advice from admissions professionals, and planning for all aspects of college life. RA 101 - Becoming an R.A. Can Really Pay! by Stuart Burton Longwood University, Longwood, Virginia My name is Stuart Burton, and I am currently a sophomore at Longwood University. College life is what you make it, and so far, mine has been pretty awesome. Last year, as a freshman, I thought about becoming an RA, a Resident Assistant. How hard could that be? And you get free room and board! Well, I am here to tell you that it IS hard work, but it is also worth all the time and dedication. Where else can you get on-the-job-training for life skills that will look great on your resume? To start, at Longwood, you have to take an actual academic class - Resident Assistant. And get graded. (And yes, I did get an A!) It's just like all my other classes- lots of papers, tests, but then you have to "shadow" other RAs, as well as interview with the big wigs of the university. And after all that, you still are not sure if you have the job as RA. More... Connect with other members in the NHSSS forums. Chat with members from around the globe. Visit the Member Connection Section. If you would like to be considered for the monthly Member Showcase, please click here. Daniel Richard Burton Silverdale, Washington Central Kitsap High School "Without challenges and progression, man ceases to live." - Quote derived/inspired from Fyodor Dostoevsky's Crime and Punishment Jenna Obler Marshall, Minnesota Marshall Senior High School "Cherish forever what makes you unique, 'cuz you're really a bore if it goes." - Bette Midler Christopher O. Sosanya Raleigh, North Carolina Wakefield High School "In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life: it goes on." -Robert Frost Philip Talamo Freehold, New Jersey Christian Brothers Academy "Nothing that is so, is so... " - The CBA Real Man's Club Sarah Varnerin Norton, Massachusetts Bishop Feehan High School. Attleboro, Massachusetts "Well I am what I am, thank God." - Jimi Hendrix Visit the NSHSS Scholar's store and check out our selection of great recognition items like honor cords and lapel pins, available only to members. Shop in the member section of the web site or print out an order form. Cambridge, Massachusetts Harvard University Harvard Program Harvard Dean of Admissions Dr. William R. Fitzsimmons addresses NSHSS members on the Harvard campus. Honorees Katherine Van Schaik and Anny Rasulova with NSHSS members at reception following Harvard program in the Fogg Art Museum. On February 19, 2005, 300 NSHSS members, guests, and distinguished teachers gathered on the Harvard campus in the Fogg Art Museum for a special program featuring a keynote address by Harvard Dean of Admissions William R. Fitzsimmons. The Dean remarked that he was struck by how similar the ethos and the mission of NSHSS and Harvard are and applauded the work we are doing. He talked about the mechanics of the admissions committee process, and what Harvard looks for in an application. Listen to the Dean's address. NSHSS Chair Claes Nobel also addressed the group and personally presented awards to scholarship recipients Katherine Van Schaik, Carolyn Amole, and Folasade Odeniyi, members now attending Harvard, and to Anna Rasulova, now attending Brown. Katherine and Anna, both NSHSS student council members, spoke to the students about their college experiences. Read Anna's speech. We also recognized "Scholar's Journal" author Natasa Kovacevic, recently featured on our website, and Sarah Varnerin, whose nomination of her high school, Bishop Feehan High School, in Attleboro, Massachusetts, led to her school's selection for a Claes Nobel School of Distinction Award. Click here to read Natasa's recap of the event. In addition, we were pleased to honor area Educators of Distinction selected by New England members as favorite teachers and inspiring role models. After the program, members had an opportunity at the reception in the museum to meet each other, Mr. Nobel, student honorees, and staff. "The speakers at Harvard were WONDERFUL--beyond wonderful! I was truly inspired by Mr. Nobel especially. It really re-invigorated me and I am even more energized to conquer!!! -Diana Metobo James Bowie High School, Arlington, TX "The program at Harvard was wonderful. I felt honored to be recognized by NSHSS. I believe the work of Claes Nobel is very important to the survival of our planet and I commend him for his efforts." -Roy A. Immonen Educator of Distinction Foxborough High School, Foxborough, MA San Diego, California San Diego Program NSHSS members and guests recently enjoyed a cruise with Chairman Claes Nobel, NSHSS staff, and California Educators of Distinction on Feb. 26 in the San Diego Bay. NSHSS Student Council member Kinbo Lee, UCLA freshman, addressed the group as well at a program on the The Lord Hornblower (pictured above), a magnificent 151-foot steamer yacht. The group took advantage of a sunny Saturday to meet each other and Mr. Nobel, who encouraged young people to take the reins as leaders of the future. Mr. Nobel also recognized over two dozen area teachers who were selected by students as favorite teachers and role models. Southwest Airlines Headquarters Dallas, Texas Upcoming Event - Dallas, Texas Colleen Barrett, NSHSS Advisory Board Member and President of Southwest Airlines, will again this year host a luncheon and program for our members at her headquarters office adjacent to Love Field Airport in Dallas, Texas. Southwest Airlines will put together a Texas feast for members and their families. This free member event features NSHSS Chair Claes Nobel and Ms. Barrett as speakers, and provides an opportunity to recognize honor students and distinguished teachers. This will be a great chance for members to meet each other, Mr. Nobel, NSHSS staff, and Colleen Barrett, a truly outstanding role model for young people. There will also be a drawing for a pair of airline tickets and other prizes. All members are invited to attend the program on March 30, 2005, from 11:30-1:30 p.m. View invitation here. Claes Nobel School of Distinction Award Collins Hill High School Congratulations to Collins Hill High School in Suwannee, Georgia, on being selected for this month's Claes Nobel School of Distinction, nominated by Andrew Walker. Collins Hill has been designated a Georgia School of Excellence. The school has claimed several state and regional titles in sports, and its women's basketball team recently ranked 6th in the nation. Collins Hill students consistently score above the state and national averages in standardized tests. It has been rated a passing school by "No Child Left Behind." Andrew is proud that his school always strives to be one of the top performing schools and achieves this goal. To nominate your school for consideration, please email Dr. Susan Thurman at susan.thurman@nshss.org with an explanation of why your school deserves this recognition. Be sure to include your name and contact information, the school's name and city, and a link to the school's website. Scholar's Think Tank The Voice of Youth Top 10 Majors According to a Job Outlook 2005 survey recently conducted by the National Association of Colleges and Employers, the greatest number of employers said they were interested in hiring new college graduates who majored in accounting, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, business administration, economics/finance, computer science, computer engineering, marketing or marketing management, chemical engineering, and information sciences and systems. In our NSHSS February survey, asking members what fields they plan to study in college, our respondents indicated the most popular majors for members are: political science/pre-law and pre-med, and science. These were followed by education, liberal arts, social sciences/psychology, performing arts, business, computers sciences and technology, and physics and math. This month, we would like to find out your most important reasons for attending college.